How to Tackle the Michigan Ross MBA Essay Questions 2025-2026

Michigan Ross School of Business has updated its MBA essays for the 2025-2026 admissions cycle. 

Essay 1 now includes the short career goals answer as part of its prompt. This is combined with Ross’s Action-Based Learning philosophy.

Essay 2 remains unchanged. 

In a growing trend among business schools, Ross has also added a note for applicants regarding the use of Artificial Intelligence to write or edit their applications: 

Note: Ross graduate admissions recognizes the appropriate use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools for providing guidance and suggestions. If you use Artificial Intelligence (AI) software in the creation of your essay answers, you are required to use the APA in-text citation “Personal Communication.” Rule: (Communicator, personal communication, Month Date, Year); example: (OpenAI, personal communication, September 1, 2024).

The essays continue to prompt applicants to think deeply about their career goals, personal values, and fit with Ross’s distinctive community.  and experiential learning philosophy. Here's how to write the Michigan Ross essay questions for 2025-2026. 

Essay 1: Career Goals and Ross’s Action-Based Learning

What is your short-term career goal, and how will Ross’s philosophy in Action-Based Learning help you achieve it? Please be specific. Please answer both parts of this question. (300 words)

This essay asks you to begin by clearly outlining your immediate post-MBA career goal. Specify the industry, function, and even target companies, demonstrating you’ve done your research and that your plan is realistic for a recent Ross MBA graduate. Explain why this role is your next logical step and how your background supports this trajectory.

Next, shift focus to why Ross is the right environment to help you realize this goal. Ross prioritizes experiential education, especially through its REAL (Ross Experiences in Action-Based Learning) portfolio, which includes the signature Multidisciplinary Action Projects (MAP) course. Discuss how specific aspects of Ross’s Action-Based Learning ecosystem, such as MAP, student-led investment funds, or entrepreneurship labs, will help you develop the skills and experience necessary to thrive in your chosen field.

You might also reference relevant coursework, clubs, or student initiatives, but tie each one directly to a skill or experience gap you intend to fill. Demonstrating a clear understanding of how Ross’s hands-on approach aligns with your learning style and goals will help you stand out. If you have the space to do so, conclude with a sentence about how you hope to contribute to the Ross community, helping the AdCom see what value you can uniquely bring to campus.

Essay 2: Personal Qualities and Impact

Michigan Ross is proud to support a community of leaders and impact makers. As a future member of this community, we want to know more about who you are and what drives you. Please choose one of the following prompts and indicate your selection at the top of your response. (200 words)

• What makes you unique?

• Can you provide a specific example of how you’ve overcome a personal challenge?

• What makes you excited to get up each morning?

• Describe a time when you made a difference in your community or with an individual.

Each of these prompts invites a personal, authentic reflection that goes beyond your academic or professional resume. The key is to choose a topic that is both deeply meaningful and specific to you – something that no other applicant could claim as their own.

What makes you unique?: Here, you’ll need to focus on a trait, background, experience, or perspective that sets you apart in a meaningful way. This isn’t about listing accomplishments, but rather offering insight into what shapes your worldview or how you show up in teams or communities. Be specific; avoid generic claims like “I work hard” and instead illustrate how this uniqueness manifests in your actions or choices.

Can you provide a specific example of how you’ve overcome a personal challenge?: Choose a moment that reveals resilience, self-awareness, or personal growth. Focus less on the size of the challenge and more on your mindset and actions in overcoming it. Describe the context clearly, articulate what was at stake, and reflect on how the experience changed you or influenced your goals and values.

What makes you excited to get up each morning?: Here, you’re being prompted to reflect on the deeper passions or values that drive you, not just the hobbies or tasks you enjoy. Whether it’s solving complex problems, mentoring others, or creating community, convey why it matters to you and how it shapes your daily life or future ambitions. 

Describe a time when you made a difference in your community or with an individual: This prompt calls for a community story. Whether the setting is community-oriented (like creating a peer leadership program in your community) or direct (like mentoring a junior at work), show how your actions led to a meaningful change. Emphasize both the practical outcome and what the experience taught you about leadership, empathy, or responsibility.

In all prompts, aim to provide clear context, show your actions and mindset, and conclude with the positive outcomes or insights gained. Ross values leaders who lead with empathy and initiative, so emphasize both impact and introspection.

Optional Essay

Is there something in your resume or application that needs a brief explanation? (250 words)

Use this space only if you need to clarify something that could raise questions, such as a gap in employment, poor academic performance, or an unusual recommender choice. Keep your tone honest and direct. Briefly provide context, explain what happened, and focus on what you learned or how you've grown.

Ross allows bullet points here. Be concise, and avoid the temptation to use this essay as another opportunity to share a success story or express additional interest in the program. If there is nothing that requires explanation, it’s perfectly acceptable to leave this section blank.